Fourteen of the 26 completions Brees threw to 10 different receivers went for first downs. Brees connected with at least six different players strictly for first downs.

Two of his five scores went to the hobbled Graham, who ultimately did dress out but lined up for just 18 snaps. A third went to Lance Moore, who had missed the previous three games with a hand injury. A fourth went for 69 yards to rookie Kenny Stills.

But Brees came up with a throw that topped those combined three TDs to players recovering from injuries and the aforementioned bomb to the first-year player. It was a 42-yard touchdown to Stills on third-and-20, his second third-and-20 TD toss to Stills in as many games.

To anyone who couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the pair of third-and-20 connections, there was a reason for that. As ESPN Stats & Information verified Monday, Brees had never before thrown a touchdown pass of that distance.